As the weather turns colder in the Iron ridge so chills the relations between the Iron court and the Ruby King.
General Cactus and his troops show little sign of leaving, when questioned the General states, "A recent assassination attempt made on my life has shown just what lengths Riverring is willing to go to to hurt the Ruby King and his allies. Because of this his eminence, King Mankar III , widower of the setting sun, has bid me to hold to my task, and defend the Iron Kingdoms border to the last man."
The General is at least good to his word, whether by intention or not, as no independent merchant caravans are attacked rounding the western mountains. The fact that the flow of merchants from the west has trickled down to naught may be a large contributor to this though. Two weeks after the the assassination attempt the General receives a small group of reinforcements, a Mage known as Alexander arrives accompanied by two apprentices, two wards and a small entourage of slaves. Not long after arriving the mage can be seen at work around the camp but to what avail you are not sure.
By mid month you receive and unexpected visitor. Trader Adam arrives from Riverring, alone and unheralded, he requests an audience with the Iron King and his council.
"Unfortunately my friends the news i bring is not good, the council sits undecided regarding you plea for assistance. This war with the Ruby King is being fought on many fronts, your border being only but one of them. Trader Topaz and I have both championed this plan of your King Blackwell but the rest of the council is more concerned with the ongoing naval skirmishes in the northern straits. Understandably they view securing our lines to the world outside of Faraway as the key to victory and have little time for other concerns."
Adam pauses briefly to retrieve a cigarette from his robe, lights it and continues.
"The unfortunate situation for you your majesty is that the Iron Ridge is viewed as a problem that can wait, likely by the Ruby court as well. Your mines are not likely to sprout legs and leave and whom ever mines them when the war concludes can be bargained with then. I have no doubt this Mankar will not hesitate to cut you out of the picture when the time suits him, but for the moment you are viewed as useful. Your people mine him the iron and he sells it abroad at a decent rate and while his attentions are consumed elsewhere the situation likely suits him well enough.
The Guild holds a similar view. Primarily we shall concentrate on crippling his ability to export, if we control the seas the life can be slowly choked out of his empire, coin by coin, then we swoop in with the coup de grĂ¢ce once he is down and gasping. This is a slow approach yes, but we are merchants not Warlord."
Adam stops to take a deep draw from his cigarette while studding the faces of each of you in turn.
"I how ever wish to play this game a little differently. I see a potentially strong ally in the Iron Kingdom, you are a fledgling nation yes, but you are compromised of some very skilled individuals. I believe we can do great things together and i do not see the point in wasting a good ally in the hope that who ever comes next will be equally suitable. The council may not throw its full weight behind you yet but i can, and i am a man of no small means."
With a brief pause and a develish smile Adam continues.
"So i put it to you your Majesty, that between yourself, your Dukes and I, we construct a plan to evict these unwelcome guests promptly so that we can resolve this mess and settle back down to business!"